After watching the true-life story of retired Philadelphia Eagles player Vince Papale I cannot help but think that it was given the perfect name. Invincible is exactly what Vince Papale was. A true underdog story, Vince Papale went from being the guy who had good intentions but nothing to show for it, to the guy who had, and has, everything a man could ever need.
Created by Disney, Invincible stars Mark Wahlberg in the lead role of Vince Papale. Supporting roles include Greg Kinnear as the head coach of the Eagles in 1976, Dick Vermeil and Elizabeth Banks as Janet Cantrell. Additional stellar performances were turned in by Kirk Acevedo, who plays Tommy, and Tony Luke Jr. who is merely credited as the Cape-Clad Fan.
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The Plot
Married for five years and holding a teaching degree that was not being used to its full potential, Vince Papale had little in life so it seemed. He had his friends, his family, his jobs bartending and substituting, and he (like many Philly natives) had his Eagles. Of course, they weren’t doing too well in the mid-70’s. In fact, even people from Philly would tell you that they sucked in those days. Vince still loved them though. The Eagles were his team and a man never turns his back on his team.
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While Vince starts with little in this movie, he soon ends up with less. His wife leaves and he feels he truly has nothing. Vince’s wife leaves him a note explaining that he is nothing and he will never be anything. This mantra leads us through the movie. This is what guides us and Vince through this underdog story about a guy we all could relate to and call a friend.
In 1976, open tryouts were held for the Philadelphia Eagles. Vince Papale was one of many to show up. However, he was the only one to make it to training camp that year. Vince spent the entire year convincing himself that he would be going home and yet, his skills, determination, and heart kept him on the team. Invincible is the true football underdog story of our generation with an ending we can all strive for in our own lives.
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The Formalities
One of the things that made this movie so great was the flawless connections in the film. Maybe it was that Vince’s life seemed like it would make a great movie script. Maybe it was the realization that great things can happen to good people. However, even with these things without a good director, writer, and behind the scenes people, there is no movie. All of these people deserve kudos for making Invincible as entertaining and believable as it was.
The reason I say believable was because of the fact that it was set in the 70’s. In the past, we have seen movies set in the 70’s with no ascertainable differences to them other than a date flashing on a screen. For example, Rudy, another underdog story set in a similar time and with a similar theme does not offer the feel of the 70’s. While an amazing movie, it feels more like the time it was created in, which removes the true-story aspect a little and leaves us with a heart-warming story that is not as effective as it could have been.
However, Invincible does just the opposite. From the hairdos to the orange camera effects (as well as the bad 70’s music!), you feel the 70’s when watching this movie and that is one of the things that help you connect with Papale and root for him as he attempts to prove everyone wrong and change his life.
What People are Saying
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Some people, such as the numerous users on IMDB (The Internet Movie Database) have strong reservations against Mark Wahlberg playing the lead character in Invincible. When they were asked who they would have liked to play the part or who would have been better, the answers were mixed. My favorite though was a bulkier Vin Diesel with a toupee.
I am not sure how much bigger Vin would need to be, but I couldn’t stop laughing when I read that response. It had the same effect I would have received had someone said they should have painted Gary Coleman white and given him some stilts so that he could have been Vince Papale.
Needless to say, I don’t agree with the IMDB users that downgraded this movie. While many think that Rudy and other underdog stories were better, I don’t think there is any real comparison. Rudy was about college football and though Rudy loved Notre Dame he really had no skill. Invincible is about the NFL and Vince Papale had game.
The Bottom Line: Invincible works for people that love football and for those that don’t like the sport. For sports fans it will fulfill the sporty, action requirement and for non-action lovers it will give you the heart-warming, mushy feeling you have come to know and love from a grown-up Disney movie.
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Written by Dom and Ash - Visit Website
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Invincible ruins the most dramatic and exciting sports moment within it by cutting to a close-up slow motion shot of Wahlberg. Now as for why I think Wahlberg was poor in the role: he played the role the same as most all of his roles, kind of quiet tough guy acting. However, if you watch the real Vince he was a man so happy with being on the football field always dancing and gooofing around and hopping here and there and cheering…Mark did not capture that.
Actually I think Vince’s life was an interesting choice for a movie, but this movie did not really cover it very well as a whole…felt like a siple Disney marketed film lacking real valuable content pertaining to the true story.
HOWEVER, not matter what I or any other critic thinls the one man whose opinion counts is Vince himself and if you watch the special features he thinks Mark and everyone did awesome and he loved it.